Today, Romania is a full-fledged NATO member and is firmly advancing on its track towards EU integration in 2007. Our country is a consolidated democracy, based on rule of law, respect for human rights and freedom of expression, with a vibrant economy functioning according to the free market principles.EU Accession
Romania – Member State of the European Union from 1 January 2007
On 26 September, the European Commission issued its last Monitoring Report which re-confirms 1 January 2007 as the date of Romania’s accession to the EU. Thus, the Commission points out that, in the light of the progress made, Romania will be in the position to assume, starting with 1 January 2007, the rights and obligations deriving from EU membership.
The Report of the Commission acknowledges that Romania has made significant progress in all the areas of concern highlighted in the Report of 16 May 2006 (reform of the judicial system, the fight against corruption, taxation, and agriculture), as well as regarding all three accession criteria. Romania fulfils the political criteria and is on track with regard to the economic criteria and the acquis. Also, the Report provides details on the accompanying measures stated in the Accession Treaty or the community acquis, that could be adopted, if necessary, in cases of non-compliance with the commitments.
Currently, ensuring a quality integration in the European Union remains Romania’s priority objective.In order to meet this objective, Romania is committed to:
Continue the pace of the internal preparation, in order to ensure the real integration and functioning into the Union after accession.
Finalize the process of ratification of the Accession Treaty before the end of 2006 so that accession becomes possible on the 1 January 2007.
Prepare for EU membership by putting to good use the experience gained as an active observer to the works of the European institutions.
State of Play - Accession Process
In December 2004, Romania closed the accession negotiations to the European Union. The European Council of 16-17 December 2004 reconfirmed 1 January 2007 as the date of Romania’s accession to the EU.
Chronology of Romania - EU relations
On 25 April 2005, Romania and Bulgaria, together with the representatives of the 25 member states of the Union, signed in Luxemburg the Treaty of Accession to the European Union. The signing of the Accession Treaty came after the assent of the European Parliament on 13 April 2005, given by an absolute majority of votes.
Currently, ratification of the Accession Treaty by the EU Member States has entered the final stage. Until now, the Treaty was ratified by 22 Member States, namely: Slovakia (21 June 2005), Hungary (26 September 2005), Slovenia (29 September 2005), Cyprus (27 October 2005), Greece (2 November 2005), Estonia (16 November 2005), Czech Republic (6 December 2005), Spain (14 December 2005), Italy (22 December 2005), Malta (24 January 2006), Latvia (26 January 2006), United Kingdom (16 February 2006), Portugal (8 March 2006), Lithuania (30 March 2006), Poland (30 March 2006), Sweden (9 May 2006), Austria (11 May 2006), the Netherlands (13 June 2006), Finland (19 June 2006), Ireland (21 June 2006), Luxemburg (29 June 2006) and France (3 October 2006).
Romania’s progress in the accession preparations were monitored by the Commission by means of the same instruments used for the 10 states that acceded to the EU in 2004 – monitoring reports, early warning letter, peer-review missions, and consultations on specific issues.
The first Monitoring Report was issued by the Commission on 25 October 2005 and was followed, on 7 November 2005, by an early warning letter that highlighted, in the light of the findings of the Report, the priority areas where Romania had to continue the preparations for accession. The second Monitoring Report was presented on 16 May 2006 and stated that Romania will be ready for accession on 1 January 2007 provided that a number of outstanding issues are addressed. The last Monitoring Report of the Commission was published on 26 September 2006 and re-confirmed 1 January 2007 as the accession date of Romania to the EU.
Romania – active observer in the institutions of the European Union
After the signing of the Accession Treaty, Romania became an acceding state and was granted the status of active observer to the activities of the Union. Romania is associated to the works of all community institutions, at the political and technical level (The EU Council and its sectorial bodies, the working bodies of the European Commission, European Parliament, Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee). Also, the association to the great policy lines of the Union (the Hague Program, the Lisbon Strategy, the Sustainable Development Strategy etc) represents an important challenge for Romania.
Future of Europe
Romania’s accession to the EU takes place at a time marked by the debate on the Constitution and the future of Europe. European institutions, member states, representatives of the civil society and the academia participate together in the debate. In this respect, the European Commission has adopted the White Paper on the European Communication Policy that targets the improvement of the communication deficit between the Union and its citizens.
Common Foreign and Security Policy
Romania already brings an important contribution to the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union, due not only to its association with and support of the common positions and declarations of the Union but also to its involvement in the E.U. military and police operations and the sharing of foreign policy experience.
Taking into account that, at the time of accession, the northern and eastern borders of Romania will become external frontiers of the European Union, Romania is preparing to contribute to the consolidation of the area of freedom, security and justice through the effective management of its external borders.
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